Page 114 of Massacre Monday

My eyes squeeze shut at the pleasurable sensation of getting some food in me. “I can handle it.”

Her face lights up as I take more in, then she balances a cup with a straw for me. Reaching my neck forward, I take a few sips of cool water.

“I like you like this,” she says.

“Like what?”

She rolls her lips to hold back a smile. “All needy for me.”

“Fuck, pink cheeks. I’mdesperatefor you, honestly. You’re all I think about. You’re what…” A flashback to the last two dark nights, worried about how I’d get out of that room alive and back to her, invades my mind. “You kept me going.”

Setting the glass down on the nightstand, she stares at the sheet around my waist. “I’m sorry my brother did those things to you.”

I shrug. “He loves you and was trying to protect you, but he doesn’t realize something important.”

“What’s that?”

With all the metal and tape around my hands, I can barely feel her face when I caress it, but I try. “You can easily protect yourself, and you willneverneed protection from me.”

“Good, because I’d hate to break the rest of your fingers.”

I chuckle, but wince after a stabbing sensation follows it.

A knock sounds at the door, and Pen jumps to get it. Aiden strolls in with his eyes focused on me and his jaw set with a look I know too well. Henry enters just behind, making a beeline for the bed and jumping on it, then latching his arms around my neck until I groan.

“Sorry, sorry!” he says, then slides off the bed and heads over to the fridge, grabbing a few beers.

Aiden stands at the end and crosses his arms, not accepting Henry’s offered bottle. “Who did it?”

Pen keeps her gaze on my face, her mouth closed.

“There was a misunderstanding with some of the Marauders,” I explain.

Aiden snaps his head toward my girlfriend and waits, but she doesn’t speak.

“But it’s settled now. No need for any retaliation.” My voice is firmer this time.

“Sure, Ryan.” Aiden says it with a sneer, like perhaps I’m not going to tell him to kill Pen’s brothers in front of her but will later.

“I mean it. Don’t do anything.”

“You want me to sit back, you wantDadto stand down, after the Marauders took you and hurt his first-born son?”

My hand resting on Pen’s thigh squeezes her gently as much as I can muster. “Yes.”

“I can’t do that, Ryan.”

Henry drops a beer cap, kicks it under the sofa slyly, as if he didn’t, while his head whips back and forth between us.

“I’m sorry, Pippi, but your brothers need to pay,” Aiden says without inflection. He’s already got a plan for their destruction, I’m sure.

My girl stares at the ground and takes a deep breath. “I understand, Aiden, but this may cause worse problems. Not just for the Vipers, but foreveryoneat Northview.”

“That’s the thing,” I tell him. “Our families will be joined by the end of this academic year. Pen is appointed to me, and I’m going to marry her. Besides, Oz did help me a few times over the last couple of days.”

“Helpedyou.” Venom drips from his voice.

“Yeah. He brought me food and water. Chatted with me. Kept me from losing my mind. I don’t think either of her brotherswantedto end me, but how would you feel if you thought someone messed with Olivia.”